Jewelry box

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for stimulating the fluorescence of a gemstone jewelry piece is disclosed. The apparatus uses a container or box to hold all the necessary components including an ultra-violet energy source which provides the ultra-violet energy used in stimulating the gemstone jewelry piece. The energy source may be powered by either a rechargeable or non-rechargeable battery. The gemstone jewelry piece&#39;s fluorescence is stimulated and emitted upon application of the ultra-violet energy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally related to an apparatus forstimulating the fluorescence of a gemstone jewelry piece.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Jewelry pieces are normally displayed and arrayed for customers to viewby illuminating their environs. In some instances, light is shone atdifferent angles to help illuminate the jewelry piece. However, thereare certain gemstones that have their own fluorescencequalities—qualities that are not seen unless if stimulated with theappropriate means. These qualities, if seen, would enhance the beautyand presentation of the jewelry piece.

Fluorescence in certain gemstones of jewelry pieces occurs as a resultof the absorption of energy from another source. One such energy is thatemitted by an ultra-violet energy source which tends to be invisible tothe human eye.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the foregoing, it is an object of the present invention toprovide an apparatus that brings out or stimulates the fluorescence of agemstone jewelry piece, rather than illuminating the gemstone. It alsoan object of the present invention to provide a display system tovisually demonstrate the fluorescent qualities contained in certaingemstones in a most spectacular way. It is further an object of thepresent invention to provide a portable display, packaging,presentation, and storage system able to accommodate a wide variety ofjewelry styles and formats that integrates all the necessary elements tostimulate the fluorescent qualities of the gemstones contained in thegemstone jewelry piece(s).

In an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatusmay include a box for the gemstone jewelry piece, a pad positionedwithin the box and for placing the gemstone jewelry piece, and anultra-violet energy source within the box. In one aspect, theultra-violet energy source may be optimally positioned in relation tothe gemstone jewelry piece. This may include positioning theultra-violet energy source directly over the gemstone jewelry piece orat an angle. In another aspect, the ultra-violet energy source may belocated in the box lid. The box, in another aspect, may have aclam-shell configuration which would enable a user to open the box toreveal the gemstone jewelry piece. In this aspect, the ultra-violetenergy source may be positioned in the lid half of the box while the padbearing the gemstone jewelry piece may be positioned in the oppositehalf of the box.

In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, theapparatus may include a power source, which, in one aspect, may be abattery. In one aspect, the battery may be rechargeable. In anotheraspect, the apparatus may include a battery charger port used inrecharging the rechargeable battery.

In another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, the switchof the apparatus may be a pressure switch. In one aspect, the switch maybe an automatic switch that energizes the ultra-violet energy sourcewhen the box is opened.

In yet another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, theapparatus may include a pad that is interchangeable andreversible—thereby enabling a jeweler to use either sides of the pad,use the pad for a variety of gemstone jewelry pieces or use the pad formultiple gemstone jewelry pieces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of aspects of embodiments of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the detailed description setforth below when taken in conjunction with the claims and drawings, inwhich like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similarelements.

FIG. 1 illustrates a jewelry box whilst in its closed position accordingto an exemplary aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a jewelry box showing its interior componentsaccording to an exemplary aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a jewelry box showing its recharging point accordingto an exemplary aspect of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates additional components of the jewelry according to anexemplary aspect of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, a jewelry box 100 is shown. Box 100functions as a presentation, display and storage apparatus for thegemstone jewelry piece(s) or loose diamonds or other gemstones that maybe contained in it. In one aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention, box or container 100 may be a rectilinear clamshell stylebox. It should be noted that box 100 may not be restricted by size,shape, or opening style. Box 100 may include an ultra violet energysource 102 located in the top lid or upper half of box 100. Ultra violetenergy source 102 may be provided by a variety of devices, including,without limitation, light emitting diodes (LEDs). Ultra violet energysource 102 is used to produce an invisible ultra violet beam orelectromagnetic energy which causes the fluorescence in the gemstone toemit light. There is no illumination of the gemstone by ultra violetenergy source 102. In one aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention, ultra-violet energy source 102 may be provided by a 365 nmLED.

A gemstone jewelry piece 104 of a wide variety of gemstone jewelrypieces and styles may be accommodated in box 100 by way ofinterchangeable display inserts or pad 106 located in the lower half ofbox 100. Gemstone jewelry piece 104 may be one or more gemstones or acombination of gemstones together in one piece. Ultra violet energysource 102, may, in one aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention, be placed above a gemstone jewelry piece which is mounted orpositioned on pad 106. In another aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention, ultra-violet energy source 102 may be placed at an anglerelative to the gemstone jewelry piece mounted or positioned on pad 106.Box 100 may also include a battery or power supply 108 which is used toenergize ultra-violet energy source 102, which may be positioned orlocated below pad 106. In one aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention, battery or power supply 108 may be provided by a rechargeablebattery which may be recharged by way of rechargeable port 110 as shownin FIG. 3. Rechargeable port 110 in another aspect of the invention maybe configured as an alternative power supply from a regular outlet.

Referring back to FIG. 2, box 100 may also include latch or switch 112which operates as a switch to enable power supply 108 energizeultra-violet energy source 102 when box 100 is opened. Power source 106is connected with ultra violet energy source 102 by way of electricalconnections or wiring in section 114 of box 100. Once box 100 is opened,ultra-violet energy source 102 is energized and ultra-violet rays may bedirected at the gemstone jewelry piece on pad 106 to stimulate thefluorescence contained in gemstone(s) of the gemstone jewelry piece.

Referring now to FIG. 4, additional components of box 100 are shown.Here, ultra-violet energy source 102 may, in one aspect of an embodimentof the present invention, be combined in a single unit housing with heatsink 116 for thermal management, optical collimator 118 to focus theultra-violet rays emanating from ultra-violet energy source 102. Inanother aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, box 100 mayinclude a push button style on off switch 120 (in lieu of switch 112)which a jeweler may use to turn on ultra-violet energy source 102 atease.

Although this present invention has been disclosed with reference tospecific forms and embodiments, it will be evident that a great numberof variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention. For example, steps may be reversed, equivalentelements may be substituted for those specifically disclosed and certainfeatures of the present invention may be used independently of otherfeatures—all without departing from the present invention as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for stimulating the fluorescence ofa gemstone jewelry piece, comprising: a box for said gemstone jewelrypiece; a pad positioned within said box and for placing said gemstonejewelry piece; an ultra-violet energy source within said box, whereinsaid ultra-violet energy source is optimally positioned in relation tosaid gemstone jewelry piece; a battery positioned below said pad whereinsaid battery is used to power said ultra-violet energy source; and aswitch for energizing said ultra-violet energy source.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1 wherein said battery is rechargeable.
 3. The apparatus ofclaim 2, further comprising a battery charger port.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said switch is a pressure switch.
 5. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said switch is an automatic switch that energizes saidultra-violet energy source when said box is opened.
 6. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein said pad is interchangeable and reversible.